The whole affair had been hair-raising. By the time everyone arrived and saw the two gravely wounded figures on the ground, they all breathed a sigh of relief.
Had those two escaped, the trouble would have been endless.
Cao Jinxing cupped his fists toward Wu Xuan. "Thank you for stepping in, Eunuch Wu. You've been an enormous help. I'll report everything exactly as it happened, and I certainly won't forget your kindness!"
"You're too kind, Lord Cao."
Smiling, Wu Xuan helped him straighten. "You possess the old patriarch's secret technique, the Hidden Origin Art, which makes him something of a master to you. That makes us fellow disciples, and there's no need for formalities between family. If anything happened in the Southeast, Hu Zongxian wouldn't be the only one at fault. The Weaving Bureau would also bear responsibility. Eliminating this threat today was a great help to us as well. Please, spare the formalities."
"All right, then I won't stand on ceremony."
Cao Jinxing smiled. "Now that we have all the leaders of the Three Families of the Chess and Sword Music House, the rest are nothing to worry about. We needn't fear them defecting to the enemy, and we can thoroughly investigate Li Yuzhou. Once we have results, we can report to Eunuch Yang and Minister Hu."
"Certainly."
Wu Xuan had long heard of Cao Jinxing. His immediate superior, Yang Luoshi, thought particularly highly of Cao because of Lü Fu. Otherwise, a few words would hardly have been enough to secure permission to borrow his services.
Eunuchs dispatched from the palace represented the palace itself. Though their official ranks were low, their standing was high. Even a regional governor had to show them respect. Most people would never dare ask to borrow one, let alone the second-in-command.
But now